Heartless Funeral Livestream Scams Exploit Grieving Families

Funeral Livestream Scams Target Grieving Families in the UK The United Kingdom is facing a surge in online scams that prey on the emotions of those mourning the loss of loved ones. These scams involve the creation of fake Facebook pages that mimic legitimate funeral service pages. The pages often include photos of the deceased and details of the funeral service, creating a convincing facade. A link is then provided to a fake livestream, which requires payment to view. This deceptive tactic leaves families heartbroken and financially vulnerable. One victim, Lynne Rawlins, shared her experience: "A thing came on saying John Rawlins' live stream for his funeral, and we knew we hadn't done that. It was obviously a scam." Rawlins' story illustrates the emotional distress caused by these scams. The fact that the scammers used her family photos and funeral details made the situation even more painful. Cybersecurity expert Anna Brading warns that these scams are on the rise and are difficult to combat. These criminals are quick to create new Facebook pages and domains, making it challenging to track them down. Some domains have been traced to Bangladesh, indicating a possible international network of scammers. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute has also expressed growing concern about the increasing number of these scams. Authorities are urging people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. The best advice is to never pay to watch a funeral livestream. Contact your funeral director if you are unsure about the legitimacy of a livestream link. By reporting these scams, we can help protect vulnerable individuals during their time of grief.